Chain-clasp or safety-catch.



` D. E. HEMPHILL. CHAIN CLASP 0R SAFETY CATCH. APPLICATION FILED DBo.2,1912.

1,089, 340. Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

OM WMA, VCA

@Him/nega DANA E. HEMPHILL, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

CHAIN-CLASP OR SAFETY-CATCH.

noeasae.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DANA E. HEMPHILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovements in Chain- Clasps or Safety-Catches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exacty description of the invention, such as will enable ot-hers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

This invention relates to improvements in clasps or safety catches and more especially to clasps for connecting a chain to a garment.

One object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed self locking clutch fastener for reliably securing a pin or other ornament to a garment and which cannot be accidentally opened by :i pull exerted either on the ornament o-r on the fabric to which it is attached.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construct-ion, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 represents a front elevation of this improved clasp applied as a fastening element for securing a mans watch chain to his vest, a portion only of the latter being shown; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 with the parts in operative position; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the clasp in open position and with parts broken out; Fig. 4: is a bottom plan view of the clasp shown closed in full lines and open in dotted lines; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the penetrating hook or prongs; Fig. 6 is a similar view of one of the locking members.

In the embodiment illustrated the invention is shown applied to a clasp for securing a watch chain to a mans vest or coat being designed as a substitute for the ordinary cross bar used for this purpose which is passed through the button hole of the garment. This clasp comprises a face plate 1 which may be plain or ornamented and which has a hollow rear face to which is secured a plate 2 housed therein. A hook 3 is pivotally mounted on one end of the plate 2 and, as shown, consists of a head 4 having a bore 5 extending longitudinally thereof to form a journal for a connecting pintle 6 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 2, 1912.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

Serial No. 734,602.

which is mounted in suitable bearings on the plate 2. Extending laterally from said head et are spaced inwardly curved penetrating prongs as 7 spaced apart at their base sufficiently to receive a link 8 which is pivotally mounted between them, the end through which t-he pivot passes being odset as shown at 9 to position the link when applied close to the outer face of the plate 2 and in substantially parallel relation thereto and this odset pivoted end also permits the pronged head 4L to open and close without exerting undue strain on said link, the free end of which is pivotally connected with one end of a bell crank lever 10 which is fulcrumed to the base plate 2 in longitudinal alinement with the center of said head 1 where the link 8 is connected. This lever has one short arm 11 to the free end of which the free end of the link 8 is pivoted. rThe long arm 12 of the bell crank lever 10 extends over the edge of the front plate 1 and the free end thereof is offset as shown at 13 to permit it to ex tend over the inclined edge of the front or facing plate. The free end of the lever arm 12 is preferably beveled and extends beyond the edge of the plate 1 a suiiicient distance to permit it to be engaged when in any position for actuating it and when closed to lock the hook in operative engagement with the fabric. The beveled end 111 when closed extends flush with the edge of the front plate 1 and thus avoids all danger of said end becoming engaged accidentally with adliacent objects, whereby it would be likely to be opened and the obiect of the device defeated. The curvature of the prongs 7 may be varied to adapt the device to be applied to thicker or thinner fabric as may be desired, the curvature being greater when it is used on thick material. An eye 15 is shown fixed to the end of the plate 2 opposite that to which the hook 3 is secured and is designed to receive a link of a chain C which is to be secured, it being understood that any other article may be suspended therefrom as desired.

ln the operation of this device the long arm 12 of the lever 10 is swung longitudinally toward the end of the device to which the eye 15 is secured as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and this swinging of said arm 12 will cause the short arm 11 to swing upwardly carrying with it the link 8 which forces outwardly the hook 3 spacing the prongs 7 thereof laterally from the base plate a suHicient distance to permit the engagement of the prongs Z with the fabric to which the device is to be applied. These prongs are then passed through the fabric and the lever arm l2 is swung` backwardly toward the hook 8 thus moving the link S connected with the short arm or" said lever downwardly and dran/ing with it the attaching` prongs I toward the base plateEZ and into closed posit-ion, the pivoted end of said link passingthe dead center of the tulcrum of the lever when in this position and thus securely locking the lever and the hook connected With it in closed position, all lateral strain exerted thereon being ineffective tor opening` the hook which can only be accomplished by swinging the lever arm l2 tortvardly as above described.

This device may be employed as an at.- taclnnent for ladies chatelaine pins, as a means for securino' an emblem or class pin and for any other purpose to Which it may be adapted.

l/'Vhile l have. described my invention With more or less minnteness as regards details and as being embodied in certain precise forms, l do not desire to be limited thereto unduly any more than is pointed out in the claims. 'Qn the contrary, l contemplate all proper changes in Jform, construction and arrangement, the omission of immaterialelements and substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render eX- pedient.

l claim as my invention:

l. ln article attaching device comprising a plate, a head pivotally mounted on said plate and having` an inwardly curved penetrating prono', a link pivotally connected .vith said prong adjacent the base thereof, a bell crank lever iulcr'umed in alinement with the pivoted end or" said link, the free l end of said link being pivot-ally connected with one arm of said lever and the tree end or the other arm of said lever being beveled transversely to position it iiush With the outer' edge ot' said plate Vwhen the lever is i in closed or operative position, said end being` thus disposed in convenient position for actuation.

2. An article attaching device comprising a plate, a forked holding member pivoted on said plate and having its arms invvardly curved and the free ends thereoil pointed to t'orm penetrating,` prongs, a link havingl one end offset in a direction opposite to the curvature of said arms and pivotally mounted betiveen said arms near the base thereof, a bell crank lever ulcrumed on said plate in alinement With the center oi' said holding, member, one arm of said lever being pivotally connected With the tree end ot said link.

3. An article attaching device comprising` a plate having a hollow rear tace, a head pivotally mounted on said hollow rear tace and having` inwardly curved penetrating` prongs spaced laterally apart, a link pivot ally mounted between said prongs, a bell crank lever tulcrumed in alinement with the pivoted end ot said link, the ree end of said link being,` pivot-ally connected With the short arm oit said lever and the tree end of the long arm of said lever being` oiilset to posit-ion its terminal at the outer edge ot said plate in convenient position for actua tion. \Y

ln testimony Whereorn l have hereunto set my hand in presence or tivo subscribing` Witnesses.

A DANA E. HEBPHILL. lllitnesses Arun Lnnnv, R. D. CHARLES.

Gepes of this patent may "be obtained for ve cents each, 'by addressing the Commissioner ci Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

